I’m hoping to follow the Pre-Med path at Carolina; yet, I do want to have a backup plan if Pre-Med doesn’t work out. My main reason for this discussion is to ask you for advice on which major will best fit my case. I would appreciate if you can take some of your time to advise me on this matter.
I come from a blue-collar family and neither of my parents attended college. My parents are hoping me to find a stable job (most likely some sort of white-collar job) after college and aren’t expecting me to pursue Medicine. Frankly, I don’t know if I will be able to handle Pre-Med let alone Medicine, but I would like to give it a shot and challenge myself.
Anyway, we are fortunate enough to receive a fully covered financial aid and I really don’t want to mess up this opportunity. I don’t want to waste the financial aid by going into college undecided on a major/minor. I’m currently considering the following combination. Please advise me if you know the practicality and potential for each major.
Major in Chemistry and minor in Marine Science
Major in Information Science and minor in Marine Science
Major in Computer Science and minor in Information Science
My thought for the 1st combination is to pursue a career in related to Marine Science. I live in NC and most of my relatives are commercial fisherman. I want to contribute to the industry, yet I’m not sure just how practical is it for a career in Marine Science (most of the guys working in marine department barely scrape by, even with government benefits) outside of NC.
*I grew up in a shrimp boat and practically raised by the sea. I know for sure that I will love this path; yet, my parents are advising me to stay away from it. We know a doctor who works for the the government. He makes a considerable money, just below 100k, with amazing benefits. Sadly, he’s the one of the few. He also have worked in the field for 15 years.
My thought for the 2nd combination is similar to the first, except having some sort of background in Information Science. I’m just as interested in Information Science as in Chemistry, yet I don’t know what’s the potential for Information Science.
3rd combination is pretty straight forward and deviating from my primary backup plan as a Marine Scientist. Do you know if this combination is practice by having primary knowledge in programming, technology and information management and etc.
Once again thank you so much. The 3 plans above are my alternative to Medicine. Which do you think will best help me in the sense of a stable and potential job after college?
Medical schools do not require a certain major but do require certain classes be taken. If you can complete the major you prefer and the pre-med classes then do that. I had classmates in medical school that were marine science majors, music majors, engineers as well as the traditional biology and chemistry majors. The key is to get good grades and do well on the MCAT.
Also, some of the pre-reqs for these majors and for med school overlap, and you will have room in your schedule to do some taste-testing without wasting time or credits. One of the best things that you can do for yourself is get to know your advisor and make good use of her/his experience. Meet with them early and often, and go to each meeting prepared with some specific questions. Even a decent advisor (never mind a really good one) can help make your path through college much smoother, more effective and more satisfying. Don’t be too shy or too proud to use that resource (and if you are unlucky enough to get a useless advisor- sadly, they do exist- find a proxy amongst your professors until you get your major advisor)(and it should be obvious that choosing a major advisor is worth a good effort on your part!).
For Marine Science, Chem and pre-med you will have to take Chem 101 - so go ahead and do that. Look at what other classes overlap, and at what you need to fulfill all the various GenEd, Approaches, etc. requirements for graduation.
It’s a bit contradictory, but you need to see what these classes are like at the college level to see if you are interested in them- but it’s also true that the intro classes are often the least interesting. Look to your advisor, peer counselor, etc for the unwritten info (for example- yes, that class has a tough reputation, but the teacher is worth it or don’t give up on the intro course- the next level is much better).
Number 3 is best for abundance of decently paying jobs after college (per the prospects http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm shows for computer science and information science workers, chemists and biological scientists). However, there is reasonable demand for environmental scientists (who work principally in field inspection, regulatory compliance and, if in government, environmental policy formation).
How is going into college undecided “wasting” financial aid? You will eventually select a major, and get a degree in your field. Taking a little longer to decide won’t be any different or waste any money. Actually, it may make you more sure of your major and pan out better.
There’s nothing wrong with selecting a minor in a field in which you are interested. Why not minor in marine science no matter what your major? You’re clearly interested in it.
Computer science is the best of those majors for future career prospects, followed by information science and then chemistry.
There are MANY ways to contribute to the commercial fishing industry besides studying the spawning pattern of fish.
There’s the business & regulatory side of the industry. There’s technology, logistics, int’l trade, lobbying, meterology, law, marketing, health & safety, ship & infrastructure design-- the list is endless…
Unless you are absolutely passionate about Marine Science, I’d nix it.
…you can do ALL of that stuff with a minor in marine science, and in fact, the minor might enrich and contribute to your knowledge and practice in the field.
CS major +Marine science minor + 1-2 business classes would be a very flexible degree. Try to get internships as early as freshman year (apply in October -november, meaning you must go to the career center in September). Build your resume and you won’t be stuck in a hard, low paying job.